Dr. Emily A. Kalnicky is director of science education and research at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA. She oversees all science education programs at Phipps for over 8,500 two year olds through Ph.D. level students, focused on the intersection of human and environmental health and science communication and outreach.

Dr. Kalnicky established an interdisciplinary research institute, the Phipps Research Institute for Biophilia and Science Engagement, and conducts original collaborative and independent research with universities and other organizations. She also developed the Phipps Science Communication Fellowship program, providing science communication training for scientists along with the venue for presenting their research to the public. She holds a doctorate in ecology from Utah State University, a master’s in natural resources and environmental sciences from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and bachelor of science degrees in zoology, psychology and Spanish from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her passion is developing cutting-edge programming and research focused on human and environmental health using botanic gardens as a platform for connecting youth and adults to nature.